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( o Model.)

M. BLODGETT.

MIGRU-AUDIPHONE.

No. 333,724. Patented Jan. 5, 1886.

INVENTOR Kif I WITNESSES:

' ATTORNEYS.

N. PETERS, Phnmmm n her. Washinglon, D. cv

UNITED STATES FRANK M. BLODGETT,

PATENT OFFICE.

OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MICRO-AUDIPHONE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 333.724. dated January5, 1886.

Application filed October 10, 1885. Serial No. 179,510. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK M. BLODGETT, of the city,, county, and StateofNew York,

,have invented a new and Improved Micro- Audiphone, of which thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to a device to be worn in the human ear to assisthearing; and the invention consists, principally, in providing the tubeof the device or the part that enters the ear-orifice with a membrane ordiaphragm, arranged to be vibrated by sound-waves that enter the device,to magnify or augment them, and thus render hearing more distinct.

The invention also consists of the special construction of the device,all as hereinafter described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part ofthis specification, in which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 shows the device as it appears when placed in the ear. Fig. 2is a perspective view of the device; and Fig. 3 is a sectional elevationtaken on the line x 00 of Fig. 1;

The micro-audiphone A is made of hard rubber or other suitable material,and is formed to fit the earthat is, it is formed with the tubularportion a, that enters the ear-orifice, the lower main concaved portion,1), that fits the concha of the ear, and the upper concaved portionc,that fits over the anthelix, so that the device when placed in the earwill remain securely in place without the use of holding devices orattachments.

In the tube a is placed a thin membrane or diaphragm, d, of very thinrubber or skin,held by the edgesin or over an orifice or small chamber,d. The diaphragm d is by preference guarded by a small metal thimble, e,placed in the tube, and formed with an opening, 6, to expose themembrane or diaphragm d to the action of the sound waves that passthrough the tube a. The action of the soundwaves on the diaphragm dcauses it to vibrate so thatthe diaphragm has a sounding-board effect,and magnifies or augments the waves and renders the sound more audible.

In some cases I shall form the device with a tubular portion to be heldto the car by the hand, and in others shall form it with an extendingflaring portion, (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3,) to cause the deviceto collect the sound-waves, like an ear-trumpet and direct them to thetube a; and the tube a may be either straight or curved, as desired.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. In a device for assisting the hearing, thecombination, with the tube that enters the ear-orifice, of a thinmembrane or diaphragm placed at one side of the tube, substantially asdescribed.

2. As a new article of manufacture, the micro-andiphone A, formed ofthin material,and shaped to fit the human ear, and formed with the tubea, to one side of which is secured the thin diaphragm or membrane d,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The micro-audiphone A, formed with cavities be, and tube a, and achamber, (1, in combination with the diaphragm d and thimble e, formedwith orifice e,to expose the diaphragm d, substantially as and for thepurposes set forth.

FRANK M. BLODGE'IT.

\Vitnesses:

O. SEDGWIOK, Enwn. M. CLARK.

